The Netherlands Drug Situation 2010 - Trimbos-instituut

caine samples solely contained another psychoactive substance(s) and 1% containedno psychoactive substance at all.Figure 10.3.3: Percentage of powders sold as cocaine containing medicines* Source: DIMS TM , Trimbos Institute. Since 2002, the percentage of cocaine samples containing pharmacologically activeadulterants or diluents has strongly increased. Figure 10.3.3 shows that the proportionof powders sold as cocaine with phenacetin is high but has slightly decreased(39% in 2009, 25% in 1st half of 2010). Yet, the proportion of cocaine powders containinglevamisole has strongly increased (51% in 2009, 70% in first half of 2010).Levamisole is an antihelminticum used mainly for veterinary purposes. It is also usedas an anti-cancer drug, but is not officially registered for human use in the Netherlands.The average dose of levamisole was 7.4 mg in first half of 2010. In North-America, the use of cocaine adulterated with levamisole has been associatedwith serious blood diseases. In the Netherlands no such cases are known (CAM,2010).4. In the 1st half of 2010 15% of the cocaine samples also contained the antihistaminicumhydroxyzine.Other substancesIn 2009, the following substances were found in the total number of analyzed drug samples(powders, tablets, liquids, n=5,084). Some substances found relatively often wereketamine (n=66), GHB/GBL (n=61), 4-Fluoroamphetamine (n=99), mephedrone (n=65)and 2-CB (n=81).CannabisSince 1999 the Trimbos Institute also monitors THC content and prices of cannabis (THCmonitor)(Pijlman et al., 2005). Samples of different cannabis products (about 1 grameach) are regularly procured from a random sample of 50 coffee shops and chemically152